2011-2012 Flu Information

Highland Family Medicine will have a normalsupply of Flu Vaccine for this winter's Flu. 

The CDC recommends that vaccination begin as soon as the 2011-12 seasonal influenza vaccine is available and continue through the influenza season. We have received and are giving flu shots as of September 1, 2011.

The CDC recommendations this year are:

1) annual vaccine for ALL persons aged ≥6 months

2) 2 doses for kids 6m - 8y (minimum interval: 4 weeks) if vaccination status is unknown or have never received seasonal influenza vaccine before 

3) Either regular dose Fluzone, or Fluzone High-Dose may be given to persons aged ≥65 years

Since the Flu is an evolving problem, please follow the links in the green box below for the most accurate and up-to-date information from the CDC:

 

 

 

For more general information, read this summary last updated 9/7/10 by Dr. Roszell

Vaccine

Each year the flu virus mutates, so we do not develop life-long immunity from being infected or vaccinated in a given year.

It is truly impossible to contract influenza from injected flu vaccine.  You can have a local, or even generalized, allergic reaction to the shot, which can cause aches, tenderness, and fever. 

This year we would like to immunize EVERY American over age 6 months.  High priority patients are, as always:

• Healthcare workers and emergency medical services personnel, because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;
• All children 6 months through 4 years of age, because they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread,
• Children 5-18 years of age with underlying medical conditions & Pregnant women, because these two groups are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated;
• Persons who will be in consistent close contact with infants under 6 months of age, because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated.

We do not expect any vaccine shortages for the 2011-2012 season.

General:

If you are experiencing severe symptoms including cough, fever, fatigue, sore throat, chills, headaches, and body aches, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, you should stay home from work and school. 

Not all patients with suspected influenza infection need to be seen by a health care provider, though patients with severe illness and those at high risk for complications from influenza should contact their medical provider or seek medical care.

Spread of influenza can be prevented through proper handwashing, coughing in one's elbow and avoiding contact with sick persons.

Although antiviral drugs can reduce the consequences if you already have the flu, they should only be used for confirmed cases. 

Transmission:

Influenza is primarily transmitted from person-to-person via large virus-laden droplets that are generated when infected persons cough or sneeze; these large droplets can then settle on the mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tracts of susceptible persons who are near (e.g., within about 6 feet) infected persons.

We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.

Transmission may also occur through direct contact or indirect contact with respiratory secretions such as when touching surfaces contaminated with influenza virus and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

The incubation period, the time between contracting the illness and developing symptoms, is 1-7 days.

Adults can spread influenza to others from 1 day before getting symptoms to approximately 5-7 days after symptoms start.

Children and people with weakened immune systems may be infectious and able to spread influenza to others for 10 or more days after symptoms begin.

Transmission does NOT take place from eating or contact with pork products. ONLY by contact with secretions from infected people.

Symptoms Warranting Medical Evaluation & Treatment

Influenza is a febrile respiratory illness. 

It is caused by a virus, which is NOT a living thing, and which can’t be killed with antibiotics such as Zpak and Amoxicillin. 

The symptoms are: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have diarrhea and vomiting. The majority of these cases resolve without serious complications, as all flues do. For the majority of patients, Flu infections will just be a few days spent in bed feeling lousy.

But some number of cases can progress to severe pneumonia, which is the danger we worry about, and which causes the deaths that are related to flu. The symptoms of pneumonia, in which the infection is actually deep in the tissue of the lungs, are high fever, difficulty breathing, and productive cough. Patients with pneumonia are clearly ill when you look at them: they will have fevers above 102, fast breathing, fast heart rates and appear quite sick.

Also, flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children, emergency warning signs:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

Diagnosis: 

Patients who have a febrile respiratory infection can be tested for influenza in the office with a Rapid Flu test. Certain cases may be followed with a nasopharyngeal swab sent to an outside lab for further characterization. 

Treatment:

We will ONLY treat patients whom we strongly suspect have flu, or those with serious symptoms such that we are concerned for their safety.

Close contacts (ie. family members) with a confirmed, probable or suspected case of influenza virus infection may also be given anti-viral drugs, for a duration of 10 days.

At this time, NO ONE will receive anti-viral medicine simply to prevent them from catching Flu out in the community.  This includes our providers and staff.  These medicines are only to be used in confirmed cases and their close contacts.

Children with febrile illnesses should NEVER receive aspirin.

Isolation:

The CDC recommends that suspected cases remain home and away from others until 24 hours after their symptoms pass.

UpToDate says that "household contacts who are well should minimize contact in the community, designate a single household member as the ill person's caregiver, and remain home at the earliest sign of illness should it develop. Pregnant women should avoid caring for the ill person."

Use of a face mask or N95 respirator is NOT recommended for the routine care of individuals who are not at increased risk for influenza complications in the community or at home, even when caring for an individual with an influenza-like illness (fever with cough or sore throat)

Family contacts of sick patient, who are not sick themselves, can continue daily activities while taking care to wash hands and avoid exposing others.

Prevention:  For Patients

• Persons with febrile respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections (including influenza and other respiratory illnesses).
• Frequent hand washing can lessen the spread of respiratory illness. 

Prevention: Healthcare facilities

• Tissues: Provide tissues and no-touch receptacles for used tissue disposal.
• Hand Washing: Provide conveniently located dispensers of alcohol-based hand rub; where sinks are available, ensure that supplies for hand washing (i.e., soap, disposable towels) are consistently available.
• Masking: offer masks to persons who are coughing. Either procedure masks (i.e., with ear loops) or surgical masks (i.e., with ties) may be used 
• Separation: encourage coughing persons to sit at least three feet away from others in common waiting areas.